Phys.org news tagged with:methane emissionshttp://phys.org/
en-usPhys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine.Scientists create low-methane riceScientists said Wednesday they had created a rice variety with starchier grains that emits less methane, a step towards the twin goals of feeding more people and curbing global warming.http://phys.org/news/2015-07-scientists-low-methane-rice.html
Environment Wed, 22 Jul 2015 14:03:47 EDTnews356792612Accounting for short-lived forcers in carbon budgetsLimiting warming to any level requires CO2 emissions to be kept to within a certain limit known as a carbon budget. Can reducing shorter-lived climate forcers influence the size of this budget? A new IIASA study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters analyzes the impact of short-lived air pollutant and greenhouse gas reductions on carbon budgets compatible with the 2°C climate target.http://phys.org/news/2015-07-accounting-short-lived-forcers-carbon.html
Environment Wed, 15 Jul 2015 11:15:09 EDTnews356177689Lichens, mosses and cyanobacteria produce large amounts of nitrous oxideInconspicuous creatures surprise with a property that is important for our climate: Lichens, mosses and cyanobacteria release large quantities of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O), also known as laughing gas, and low quantities of methane (CH4) into the atmosphere. This was discovered by the scientists of the Gießen and Heidelberg universities and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in extensive laboratory tests. The greenhouse effect of laughing gas is 300 times stronger than for carbon dioxide, and even methane is 30 times stronger. As the amount of nitrous oxide emitted increases at higher temperatures, the discovery is significant against the backdrop of global warming.http://phys.org/news/2015-07-lichens-mosses-cyanobacteria-large-amounts.html
Environment Wed, 15 Jul 2015 06:10:03 EDTnews356157961New study reveals mechanism regulating methane emissions in freshwater wetlandsThough they occupy a small fraction of the Earth's surface, freshwater wetlands are the largest natural source of methane going into the atmosphere. New research from the University of Georgia identifies an unexpected process that acts as a key gatekeeper regulating methane emissions from these freshwater environments.http://phys.org/news/2015-06-reveals-mechanism-methane-emissions-freshwater.html
Environment Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:00:05 EDTnews354877167Hormonal treatment for cows could reduce global warmingNew research carried out by The University of Nottingham suggests targeted use of hormone treatments could make the dairy industry more efficient and sustainable in addition to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. http://phys.org/news/2015-06-hormonal-treatment-cows-global.html
Other Thu, 11 Jun 2015 07:30:03 EDTnews353225007Natural gas versus diesel: Examining the climate impacts of natural gas trucksSome major trucking companies are turning to natural gas to fuel their fleets—and to earn "green" credit among customers. But celebrating lower emissions could be premature, according to an analysis in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. Researchers have found that converting heavy-duty trucks to run on natural gas could lead to negative climate impacts if steps are not taken to improve engine efficiency and reduce methane emissions from the fuel's supply chain.http://phys.org/news/2015-05-natural-gas-diesel-climate-impacts.html
Environment Wed, 20 May 2015 11:39:25 EDTnews351340734Scientists seek source of giant methane mass over SouthwestScientists are working to pinpoint the source of a giant mass of methane hanging over the southwestern U.S., which a study found to be the country's largest concentration of the greenhouse gas.http://phys.org/news/2015-04-scientists-source-giant-methane-mass.html
Environment Thu, 09 Apr 2015 05:10:01 EDTnews347771466Scientists take aim at Four Corners methane mysteryResearchers from several institutions are in the Four Corners region of the U.S. Southwest with a suite of airborne and ground-based instruments, aiming to uncover reasons for a mysterious methane "hot spot" detected from space.http://phys.org/news/2015-04-scientists-aim-corners-methane-mystery.html
Earth Sciences Wed, 08 Apr 2015 07:05:00 EDTnews347695454Researchers see drop in methane emissions from natural gas local distribution systemsA team led by Washington State University researchers has found that methane emissions from local natural gas distribution systems in cities and towns throughout the U.S. have decreased in the past 20 years with significant variation by region.http://phys.org/news/2015-03-methane-emissions-natural-gas-local.html
Environment Tue, 31 Mar 2015 15:38:41 EDTnews347035112New research identifies diverse sources of methane in shallow Arctic lakesNew research into the changing ecology of thousands of shallow lakes on the North Slope of Alaska suggests that in scenarios of increasing global temperatures, methane-generating microbes, found in thawing lake sediments, may ramp up production of the potent greenhouse gas - which has a global warming potential 25 times greater than carbon dioxide.http://phys.org/news/2015-03-diverse-sources-methane-shallow-arctic.html
Earth Sciences Mon, 30 Mar 2015 09:18:46 EDTnews346925918Management of peatlands has large climate impactsDrainage and management of pristine peatlands increase greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. A recent study, based on a new, wide data set collected from northern peatlands indicates that particularly those peatlands which have been taken into agricultural use have significant warming impact on climate.http://phys.org/news/2015-03-peatlands-large-climate-impacts.html
Environment Thu, 26 Mar 2015 07:00:01 EDTnews346571243Looking to space to quantify natural gas leaks on EarthThe recent increase in natural gas production could provide a bridge to a lower carbon future because it generates half the carbon dioxide (CO2) of coal when burned. However, natural gas that is leaked into the atmosphere could speed global warming and climate change. That's because its primary component, methane, is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2. Understanding the leakage rate is critical to assessing the environmental benefit of natural gas, but there is much controversy, debate and confusion among scientists and policy-makers over just how much methane is lost to the atmosphere.http://phys.org/news/2015-03-space-quantify-natural-gas-leaks.html
Environment Tue, 24 Mar 2015 05:00:02 EDTnews346353250Methane in Arctic lake traced to groundwater from seasonal thawingGlobal warming may ramp up the flow of methane from groundwater into Arctic lakes, allowing more of the potent greenhouse gas to bubble out into the atmosphere, according to a new study led by researchers at UC Santa Cruz.http://phys.org/news/2015-03-methane-arctic-lake-groundwater-seasonal.html
Environment Mon, 09 Mar 2015 15:00:07 EDTnews345127818Methane oxidation fuelled by algal oxygen productionMethane emissions are strongly reduced in lakes with anoxic bottom waters. But here – contrary to what has previously been assumed – methane removal is not due to archaea or anaerobic bacteria. A new study on Lake Cadagno in Canton Ticino shows that the microorganisms responsible are aerobic proteobacteria. The oxygen they require is produced in situ by photosynthetic algae.http://phys.org/news/2015-03-methane-oxidation-fuelled-algal-oxygen.html
Earth Sciences Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:40:01 EDTnews344590850Methane leaks from three large US natural gas fields in line with federal estimatesTens of thousands of pounds of methane leak per hour from equipment in three major natural gas basins that span Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania, according to airborne measurements published today. But the overall leak rate from those basins is only about one percent of gas production there—lower than leak rates measured in other gas fields, and in line with federal estimates.http://phys.org/news/2015-02-methane-leaks-large-natural-gas.html
Environment Wed, 18 Feb 2015 19:16:05 EDTnews343509358Methane emissions from natural gas industry higher than previously thoughtWorld leaders are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it's unclear just how much we're emitting. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a new program to track these emissions, but scientists are reporting that it vastly underestimates methane emissions from the growing natural gas industry. Their findings, published in two papers in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, could help the industry clamp down on "superemitter" leaks.http://phys.org/news/2015-02-methane-emissions-natural-gas-industry.html
Environment Wed, 11 Feb 2015 12:11:12 EDTnews342879063Largest study on natural gas transmission and storage sectors finds variations in methane emissionsA Colorado State University-led research team has completed the most comprehensive field study to date of the amount of methane being emitted at the nation's natural gas transmission and storage infrastructure, which includes roughly 2,000 compressor stations distributed along 300,000 miles of pipeline, underground storage facilities and other equipment.http://phys.org/news/2015-02-largest-natural-gas-transmission-storage.html
Environment Wed, 11 Feb 2015 07:40:01 EDTnews342861801Methane seepage from Arctic seabed occurring for millions of yearsNatural seepage of methane offshore the Arctic archipelago Svalbard has been occurring periodically for at least 2,7 million years. Major events of methane emissions happened at least twice during this period, according to a new study.http://phys.org/news/2015-02-methane-seepage-arctic-seabed-millions.html
Earth Sciences Fri, 06 Feb 2015 07:00:05 EDTnews342427322EPA's methane crackdown to come slow and easyThe Obama administration on Jan. 14 announced its long-awaited plan to control the oil and gas industry's emissions of methane, saying it would in the next decade cut in half leaks of the potent global-warming pollutant.http://phys.org/news/2015-02-epa-methane-crackdown-easy.html
Environment Sun, 01 Feb 2015 15:34:22 EDTnews342027255Boston's natural gas infrastructure releases high levels of heat-trapping methaneImagine if every time you filled your car with gas, a few gallons didn't make it into the tank and instead spilled onto the ground. That's essentially what happens every day with the aging system of underground pipes and tanks that delivers natural gas to Boston-area households and businesses, with adverse economic, public health, and environmental consequences. Now a group of atmospheric scientists at Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has produced hard numbers that quantify the extent of the problem.http://phys.org/news/2015-01-boston-natural-gas-infrastructure-high.html
Environment Fri, 23 Jan 2015 08:52:34 EDTnews341225547Mountaintop sensor finds high methane over LAA study using two years of observations from a novel mountaintop instrument finds that Los Angeles' annual emissions of methane, an important greenhouse gas, are 18 to 61 percent higher than widely used estimates.http://phys.org/news/2015-01-mountaintop-sensor-high-methane-la.html
Earth Sciences Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:30:02 EDTnews340535065Obama moves to create first methane limits for gas drilling (Update)The Obama administration laid out designs Wednesday to issue the first regulations to cut down on methane emissions from new natural gas wells, aiming to curb the discharge of a potent greenhouse gas by roughly half.http://phys.org/news/2015-01-obama-methane-limits-gas-drilling.html
Environment Wed, 14 Jan 2015 08:34:24 EDTnews340446858Rolling lab tracks methane to its sourceMcHenry Township, Lycoming County. Equipped with a gray box, a map and an SUV, Thomas Lauvaux and a team from Penn State's Department of Meteorology has been at it for hours, taking measurements and racking up the miles.http://phys.org/news/2014-12-lab-tracks-methane-source.html
Environment Fri, 19 Dec 2014 06:03:29 EDTnews338191400Effects of growing beaver population on habitat and methane gas emissionsThere are consequences of the successful efforts worldwide to save beavers from extinction. Along with the strong increase in their population over the past 100 years, these furry aquatic rodents have built many more ponds, establishing vital aquatic habitat. In doing so, however, they have created conditions for climate changing methane gas to be generated in this shallow standing water, and the gas is subsequently released into the atmosphere. In fact, 200 times more of this greenhouse gas is released from beaver ponds today than was the case around the year 1900, estimates Colin J. Whitfield of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. He led a study in Springer's journal AMBIO about the effect that the growth in beaver numbers in Eurasia and the Americas could be having on methane emissions.http://phys.org/news/2014-12-effects-beaver-population-habitat-methane.html
Environment Tue, 16 Dec 2014 09:06:24 EDTnews337943165Researchers find a small percentage of natural gas wells accounts for the majority of emissionsA team of researchers from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin and environmental testing firm URS reports that a small subset of natural gas wells are responsible for the majority of methane emissions from two major sources—liquid unloadings and pneumatic controller equipment—at natural gas production sites.http://phys.org/news/2014-12-small-percentage-natural-gas-wells.html
Environment Wed, 10 Dec 2014 07:06:31 EDTnews337417532Abandoned wells can be 'super-emitters' of greenhouse gas (Update)Princeton University researchers have uncovered a previously unknown, and possibly substantial, source of the greenhouse gas methane to the Earth's atmosphere.http://phys.org/news/2014-12-abandoned-oil-gas-wells-emit.html
Environment Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:40:00 EDTnews337279193Is natural gas a 'bridge' to a hotter future?Natural gas power plants produce substantial amounts of gases that lead to global warming. Replacing old coal-fired power plants with new natural gas plants could cause climate damage to increase over the next decades, unless their methane leakage rates are very low and the new power plants are very efficient.http://phys.org/news/2014-12-natural-gas-bridge-hotter-future.html
Environment Mon, 08 Dec 2014 12:20:17 EDTnews337263379Alaska shows no signs of rising Arctic methaneDespite large temperature increases in Alaska in recent decades, a new analysis of NASA airborne data finds that methane is not being released from Alaskan soils into the atmosphere at unusually high rates, as recent modeling and experimental studies have suggested. The new result shows that the changes in this part of the Arctic have not yet had enough impact to affect the global methane budget.http://phys.org/news/2014-11-alaska-arctic-methane.html
Environment Mon, 17 Nov 2014 05:47:12 EDTnews335425615Researchers calculate 'hidden' emissions in traded meatAn international team of researchers has, for the first time, estimated the amount of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) that countries release into the atmosphere when producing meat from livestock, and assigned the emissions to the countries where the meat is ultimately consumed.http://phys.org/news/2014-11-hidden-emissions-meat.html
Environment Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:00:01 EDTnews335114184Study finds restoring wetlands can lessen soil sinkage, greenhouse gas emissionsRestoring wetlands can help reduce or reverse soil subsidence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to research in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta by Dartmouth College researchers and their colleagues.http://phys.org/news/2014-10-wetlands-lessen-soil-sinkage-greenhouse.html
Environment Thu, 30 Oct 2014 13:19:37 EDTnews333893971